Low-profile mechanical retention

ABSTRACT

An assembly of mechanical components includes a solder joint between two metal components. A mounted component is retained on one side of a support structure by a solder joint on the other side of the support structure between a retainer and a connector that is fast with the mounted component and extends through the support structure. The retainer is of sheet metal construction, so that a height of the solder joint is no more than the thickness of the retainer, thus providing a low-profile joint.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/293,270, filed on Mar. 5, 2019,which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/782,526, filed on Oct. 12, 2017, which ishereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety

BACKGROUND

Many mechanical assemblies include the mounting of components on aframework or housing in an environment where there are significantconstraints not only on the physical dimensions of a mounting orretention mechanism for mounted components. Such applications oftenadditionally present considerable difficulties with respect to accessfor assembly.

Mechanical retention mechanisms for such applications, such as machinescrews or heat-stakes, have physical dimensions and/or accessrequirements such that the retention mechanism itself imposes sizerestraints on other components of the assembly. This is often the casein the construction of physical components for electronic devices,particularly where space is at a premium such as in wearable electronicdevices. Non-mechanical solutions, such as gluing or laser welding, arehowever often non-viable options due to unreliability, long-termdeterioration of the connection, additional complexity in tooling,and/or cost considerations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various ones of the appended drawings merely illustrate exampleembodiments of the present disclosure and cannot be considered aslimiting its scope. To facilitate collation of numbered items in thedescription to the drawings, the first digit of each numbered itemcorresponds to the figure in which that item first appears. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a housing assembly that includes alow-profile mechanical retention mechanism, according to one exampleembodiment

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional side views of the example housingmechanism of FIG. 1, an example mounted component in the form of abutton mounted to a housing by a low-profile soldered retentionmechanism according to one example embodiment being shown in FIG. 2A ina default position, and being shown in FIG. 2B in a depressed position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view, on an enlarged scale, of part ofthe housing assembly of FIG. 1, according to an example embodiment.

FIGS. 4A-4D are a series of views showing a sequence of operations forassembling a housing assembly according to one example embodiment. FIG.4B is a schematic three-dimensional view of the housing assembly beforeengagement of a retainer ring with a connector forming part of theexample button assembly. FIG. 4C corresponds to FIG. 4B, showing theretainer ring being positioned in engagement with the connector. FIG. 4Dshows a view corresponding to FIG. 4C, illustrating the formation ofsolder joints between the retainer ring and the connector by use of asolder iron.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional partial cross-section of an assembly inaccordance with an example embodiment

FIG. 6 is a schematic three-dimensional view of an eyewear device thatincludes an assembly analogous to that described with reference to FIGS.1-5.

The headings provided herein are merely for convenience and do notnecessarily affect the scope or meaning of the terms used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes devices, systems, methods,techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine programproducts that embody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In thefollowing description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding ofvarious embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. It will be evident,however, to those skilled in the art, that embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter may be practiced without these specific details. Ingeneral, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, andtechniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

One aspect of the disclosure provides for utilizing a solder joint orconnection as a mechanical joint. As will be illustrated with referenceto the example embodiment that follows, such a solder joint, e.g.,between plate metal components, provides for a low height bond thatallows a system of which it forms part to substantially maximizeavailable space for other components.

FIG. 1 shows an assembly according to one example embodiment, in thisexample being a housing assembly 100 for button-controllable electronicsto be incorporated in an electronics-enabled eyewear device such as theexample pair of smart glasses 600 illustrated in FIG. 6. The housingassembly 100 comprises a framework in the example form of a generallybox-shaped housing 103 that defines a housing cavity 106 in whichelectronic components are to be housed.

The housing assembly 100 further includes a mounted component in theexample form of a button 112 mounted on the housing 103 for allowinguser control of the electronics located within the housing cavity 106,in use. As will be described below, the button 112 forms part of abutton assembly 111 that includes a low-profile solder connection bywhich the button 112 is mounted on the housing 103. As can be seen inFIG. 1, the housing 103 includes a frame wall on which the button 112 ismounted, in this case being an operatively uppermost wall 109 defining aroof of the housing cavity 106. The roof wall 109 has an exteriorsurface 118 on an outer or obverse side, and has an opposite interiorsurface 121 on an inner or reverse side.

As illustrated schematically in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the button assembly 111is mounted on the roof wall 109 to be displaceable in a directiontransverse to the roof wall 109 (in the orientation of FIGS. 2A and 2B,being movable relative to the roof wall 109 in the up-and-downdirection, indicated as the z-dimension), allowing user control ofelectronic components 213 located in the housing cavity 106. In FIG. 2A,the button assembly 111 is shown in a default or dormant condition,while the button assembly 111 in FIG. 2B is shown in a pressed conditionin which the button 112 is moved maximally downward by manual userengagement therewith.

Although not shown in the drawings, the assembly 100 includes a biasmechanism acting on the button assembly 111 to urge it to the defaultcondition. In some embodiments, the bias mechanism may be provided byinteraction of the button assembly with the electronics 213. In anotherembodiment, the bias mechanism may comprises a resilient element orcompressions spring arrangement located in a ring recess 250 defined inthe upper surface 118 of the roof wall 109.

The physical ambit of the electronic components 213 is shown in brokenlines in FIGS. 2A and 2B, from which it will be noticed that theavailable z-dimensional space for a retention connection to attach thebutton 112 to the roof wall 109 (here being shown as the distancebetween the electronic components 213 and the interior surface 121 ofthe roof wall 109) is extremely limited. In the illustrated exampleembodiment, the space constraints are particularly severe, consideringthat due to design constraints imposed by the eyewear device 600 inwhich the housing assembly 100 is to be incorporated, the availablez-dimensional spacing between the roof wall 109 and the electronics 213is here about 1 mm. Considering that this spacing is to allow also fortravel of the button assembly, the value of limiting the z-dimensionalextent of the retention mechanism will be appreciated. Various aspectsof an example low-profile retention connection that provides formounting of the button 112 on the roof wall 109 with minimal z-thicknessis further described below.

As can be seen in FIG. 2A, a button opening 115 extends transverselythrough the roof wall 109, with a cylindrical shank or skirt of thebutton 112 being complementary to the button opening 115 and beingco-axially received therein to be slidable relative to the roof wall109. The button 112 is in this example embodiment of a hard polymericplastics material. A generally tubular mild steel connector 204 isembedded at its operatively upper end in the plastics material of thebutton 112, projecting away from the button 112 such that its distal endis located somewhat beyond the interior surface 121 of the roof wall109. Observe that the embedded end of the connector 204 is flattened orbent inwards to promote positive connection between the steel connector204 and the plastic button 112 to which it is thus attached.

A metal retainer in the example form of a mild steel retainer ring 209(best seen in FIG. 4A) is fastened to the tubular connector 204 on theinterior side of the roof wall 109, being oriented substantiallyparallel to the roof wall 109. In this manner, part of the roof wall 109is sandwiched between the retainer ring 209 and the button 112, thusretaining the button assembly 111 on the roof wall 109 with limitedz-dimensional travel. As will be described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 3-5 below, the retainer ring 209 is attached to thetubular connector 204 by a solder connection consisting in this exampleembodiment of four circumferentially spaced solder joints 219.

Referring briefly to FIG. 4A (in which the relevant components are shownin exploded view and in an inverted orientation), it will be seen thatthe retention ring 209 in this example embodiment has a plurality ofconnection cavities in the example form of four regularlycircumferentially spaced mortise holes 303 extending transverselythrough the sheet metal retainer ring 209. The operatively lower end ofthe barrel connector 204 (i.e., the upper end in the orientation of FIG.4A) defines four tenons 306 that are complementary to and correspond inspatial arrangement to the mortise holes 303. Inner surfaces 412 of themortise holes 303 are provided with a nickel coating, thereby formingrespective solder-promoting surfaces. The tenons 306 are likewisenickel-coated, providing solder-promoting surfaces on the tenons 306.For clarity of illustration, the solder surfaces 408 and 412 are hatchedin FIG. 4A. Observe that the remainder of the exposed metal surfaces ofthe connector ring 209 and the connector 204 are uncoated. In thismanner, the coated surfaces 408, 412 define target zones for therespective solder joints that are to be formed in overlapping regions ofthe retainer ring 209 and the connector 204, when the tenons 306 arereceived in the complementary mortise holes 303.

Turning now to FIG. 3, therein is shown the button assembly 111 mountedon the housing wall 109 and being disposed in the default condition, inwhich the retainer ring 209 bears against the inner surface 121 of theroof wall 109. Note that the tenons 306 are a loose fit in thecorresponding mortise holes 303, with solder material of the respectivesolder joints 219 attaching to the parallel solder-promoting interfacesurfaces 408, 412 of the connector 204 and the retainer ring 209respectively. The solder joints 219 are thus in their dimensional extent(also referred to herein as the height of the solder joints 219)restricted substantially to the thickness dimension of the sheet metalretaining ring 209. In this example embodiment, the thickness of theretainer ring 209 is about 0.2 mm, so that the low-profile solderedconnection of the example embodiment similarly has a z-dimensionalheight (h) of about 0.2 mm. Referring again briefly to FIGS. 2A and 2B,it will be seen that this relatively low profile of the retentionmechanism allows for mounting the button 112 on the housing 103 withrelatively minimal effects on available space for the electroniccomponents 213 in the housing cavity 106, when compared to existingmounting mechanisms for such applications.

An example method of manufacturing the housing assembly 100 according tothe previously described example embodiment will now be brieflydescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As described previously, FIG.4A shows the button assembly 111 in pre-assembled condition and ininverted orientation relative to its operative orientation illustratedin FIGS. 1-3. Prior to assembly, the solder-promoting surfaces 408, 412are provided on the barrel connector 204 and the retainer ring 209 byapplying the targeted nickel layer or coating previously described. Inthis example, the nickel layers are deposited by brush application, butin other embodiments the solder-promoting surfaces 408, 412 can beformed in any suitable manner, such as dipping or electro-plating.

The inverted orientation of the FIG. 4A is the orientation in which theretainer ring 209 is in this example embodiment soldered to the tubularconnector 204, thus utilizing gravity to promote filling of availablespaces between the parallel interface surfaces of the tenons 306 and themortise holes 303, and thereby promoting proper solder attachment to thenickel-coated solder surfaces 408, 412. To this end, a hollowcylindrical skirt portion 402 that projects from a head 403 of thebutton 112 and within which the barrel connector 204 is co-axiallylocated has a circumferentially spaced series of recesses 404 inregister with and located immediately below the respective tenons 306 ofthe connector 204. These recesses 404 provides evacuation space fordraining of excess solder from the mortise holes 303 during assembly.

In a first step of assembly (FIG. 4B), the housing 103 is placed on asubstantially horizontal support surface in an inverted position, withthe button 112 located on the housing 103 such that the cylindricalbutton skirt 403 is co-axial with and extends through the button opening115. In this position, the distal end of the barrel connector 204 issubstantially flush with the inner surface 121 of the roof wall 109.Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4C, the retainer ring 209 is placed flat onthe inner surface 121 of the wall 109, the connector tenons 306 beingreceived in the complementary mating mortise holes 303 with sufficientclearance between the closely spaced, parallel solder-promoting surfaces408, 412 to receive solder material therein.

As shown in FIG. 4D, a hand solder iron 424 and solder wire (not shown)in this condition accesses the mortise holes 303 via an open mouth ofthe housing 103, depositing molten solder material in the respectivemortise holes 303. The solder material flows under gravity into theclearance space between the walls of the mortise holes 303 and therespective tenons 306, and there solidifies, thus creating asubstantially permanent connection between the retainer ring 209 and theconnector 204. In this example embodiment, Tin-Silver-Copper solder isused, but any suitable solder material may be used in other embodiments.Note that the provision of the respective solder-promoting surfaces 408,412 promotes creation of the solder joints 219 at the target interfacesurfaces defined by the respective solder-promoting surfaces 408, 412.This is due in part to the relatively poor solderability of typicalsteel sheet metal, which inhibits adherence of the solder material toeither the connector 204 or the retainer ring 209 outside of thesolder-promoting surfaces 408, 412.

FIG. 5 shows a two-dimensional cross-sectional view of two of the solderjoints 219 after the described assembly oppression. Note that in theFIG. 3 and FIG. 5 of the drawings, each solder joint 219 is shown ascomprising solder material not only between the side faces of the tenons306 and the parallel interface surfaces of the mortise holes 303, butalso includes solder material of about equal thickness on the end facesof the tenons 306. Although the illustrated effect may in some instancesoccur due to surface tension of the solder material in fluid form duringsoldering, it is somewhat exaggerated in the drawings and is not ofsignificant importance to the structural integrity of the solder joints219. In many instances, the extent of solder material the solder joints219 is limited to the z-dimensional overlap between the tenons 306 andthe thickness of the retainer ring 209.

After the solder joints 219 have been allowed to set, the electroniccomponents 213 (FIG. 2A) are inserted in the housing 103 thatoperationally coupled to the button assembly 111 to allow user controlof one or more functionalities of the electronics 213 by operation ofthe button 112. Thereafter, the final housing assembly 100 isincorporated in an end product device, in this example embodiment beingan eyewear device in the example form of a pair of smart glasses 600illustrated schematically in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view of an eyewear device in the formof a pair of smart glasses 600 that includes a housing 100 including thelow-profile soldered retention mechanism as described with reference tothe example embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. The glasses 600 include a bodycomprising a front piece or frame 606 and a pair of temples 609connected to the frame 606 for supporting the frame 606 in position on auser's face when the glasses 600 are worn. The frame 606 can be madefrom any suitable material such as plastics or metal, including anysuitable shape memory alloy.

The glasses 600 have a pair of optical elements in the form of a pair oflenses 612 held by corresponding optical element holders in the form ofa pair of rims 615 forming part of the frame 606. The rims 615 areconnected by a bridge 618. In other embodiments, one or both of theoptical elements can be a display (e.g., to provide a virtual realitydisplay), a display assembly, or a lens and display combination (e.g.,to provide augmented reality functionalities).

The frame 606 includes a pair of end pieces 621 defining lateral endportions of the frame 606. In this example, a variety of electronicscomponents are housed in one or both of the end pieces 621, the housingassembly 100, with its internal electronics 213 is integrated in thelateral end piece 621. The button 112 of the housing assembly 100projects through a complementary opening in the end piece 621 to beaccessible for user operation. In some embodiments, the frame 606 isformed of a single piece of material, so as to have a unitary ormonolithic construction. In some embodiments, the whole of the body(including both the frame 606 and the temples 609) can be of the unitaryor monolithic construction.

The temples 609 are coupled to the respective end pieces 621. In thisexample, the temples 609 are coupled to the frame 606 by respectivehinges so as to be hingedly movable between a wearable mode (as shown inFIG. 6) and a collapsed mode in which the temples 609 are pivotedtowards the frame 606 to lie substantially flat against it. Each of thetemples 609 includes a front portion that is coupled to the frame 606and a suitable rear portion for coupling to the ear of the user.

The glasses 600 has onboard electronics 624 including a computingdevice, such as a computer, which can in different embodiments be of anysuitable type so as to be carried by the eyewear device body. In someembodiments, various components comprising the onboard electronics 624are at least partially housed in one or both of the temples 609. Asmentioned, various components of the onboard electronics 624 are in thisexample embodiment housed in the housing 100 within the lateral endpieces 621 of the frame 606. The onboard electronics 624 includes one ormore processors with memory, wireless communication circuitry, and apower source (this example embodiment being a rechargeable battery, e.g.a lithium-ion battery). The onboard electronics 624 comprises low-power,high-speed circuitry, and, in some embodiments, a display processor.Various embodiments may include these elements in differentconfigurations or integrated together in different ways.

As mentioned, the onboard electronics 624 includes a rechargeablebattery. In some embodiments, the battery is disposed in one of thetemples 609. In this example embodiment, however, the battery is housedin one of the end pieces 621, being electrically coupled to theremainder of the onboard electronics 624.

The glasses 600 is camera-enabled, in this example comprising a camera630 mounted in one of the end pieces 621 and facing forwards so as to bealigned more or less with the direction of view of a wearer of theglasses 600. The camera 630 is configured to capture digital as well asdigital video content. Operation of the camera 630 is controlled by acamera controller provided by the onboard electronics 624, image datarepresentative of images or video captured by the camera 630 beingtemporarily stored on a memory forming part of the onboard electronics624. In some embodiments, the glasses 600 can have a pair of cameras630, e.g. housed by the respective end pieces 621.

The glasses 600 further include one or more input and output devicespermitting communication with and control of the camera 630. Inparticular, the glasses 600 include one or more input mechanisms forenabling user control of one or more functions of the glasses 600. Inthis embodiment, the input mechanism comprises the button 112. In thecurrent example embodiment, a photo capture command can be issued by asingle, relatively short button press (e.g., shorter than a second),while a video capture command can be issued by a press-and-hold action.

It is a benefit of the described method of mounting the button 112 onthe housing 103 that it provides a low profile (i.e., relatively smallz-thickness) retention solution for bonding to metal parts as part ofthe button assembly 111. It will be seen from the description of exampleembodiments of that such assemblies are often located in narrow,difficult to access cavities, such as the housing cavity 106 of theexample embodiment. In such relatively small, limited accessenvironments, conventional alternative methods of attachment presentvarious challenges that are avoided or overcome by the disclosedconnection methods. For example, alternative methods like using machinescrews, a heat stake, or laser welding are frustrated by restrictedaccess, and require additional complexity in tooling, fixturing, andcost. Adhesive attachments like gluing are insufficiently robust, beingprone to deterioration or creep over time, particularly when exposed toheat such as that generated in use by the electronic components 213.

Problematically, many such conventional attachment methods almostinvariably adds significantly to the z-dimensional extent of the mountedassembly (e.g., to the button assembly 111) and/or requires more spaceto implement. In contrast, the disclosed detection mechanisms usessolder joints 219 as a mechanical joint. The low-height bound providedby the solder joints 219 allows the system to substantially maximizespace available for other components. Thus, the use of the disclosedlow-profile (in some cases being substantially zero-height) solderbonding in spatially restricted or difficult to access systems allowsgreater mechanical freedom, better packaging, and improvedminiaturization of consumer products. In some cases, use of thedisclosed techniques enables a metal-to-metal bond where screw access isimpossible, and where providing larger heatstake or ultrasonic weldingfixtures are not feasible or practical.

Note that although the low-profile soldered connection for retaining amounted component on a support structure is in this example embodimentdescribed with reference to a housing for electronics to be incorporatedin the example eyewear device 600, the mounting and retention techniquesdescribed herein can be implemented in a variety of differentapplications. The disclosed mechanism is particularly useful inapplications where z-dimensional space is at a premium, with minimaladditional space restriction being provided by the low profile solderedjoint.

Overview

From the above-described example embodiments, it will be observed thatone aspect of the disclosure provides for an assembly comprising:

a framework that includes a frame wall having an obverse side and anopposite reverse side;

a mounted component that is mounted on the frame wall such as to beexposed on the obverse side of the frame wall;

a metal connector that is fast with the mounted component and thatprojects from the mounted component transversely through at least partof the frame wall;

a metal retainer that is located on the reverse side of the frame wallsuch that part of the frame wall is sandwiched between the mountedcomponent and the retainer; and

a solder joint that fastens the retainer to the connector, therebyretaining the mounted component on the frame wall.

In some embodiments, the retainer is of sheet metal constructionoriented such that a thickness dimension of the retainer is transverseto the frame wall at the mounted component, e.g. comprising a sheetsteel ring lying flat against the frame wall. In such embodiments, theretainer has one or more connection cavities or openings in which partof the connector is received tenon/mortise-fashion, the solder jointbeing located at least in part in the one or more cavities. The solderjoint in such embodiments has a height dimension that is orientedtransversely to the frame wall at the mounted component, with the heightdimension coinciding substantially with an overlap between the retainerand the connector, so that the height dimension of the solder joint issubstantially equal to or smaller than the thickness dimension of theretainer. In this manner, the height or z-dimensional thickness of thejoint between the retainer and the connector is defined by the thicknessof the sheet metal retainer, thus being small relative to the size ofthe mounted component, the connector, and the frame wall. To this end,the connector projects through the retainer substantially no furtherthan a major outer face of the retainer on the reverse side.

In some embodiments, at least one of the retainer and the connectorincludes a solder-promoting surface that coincides with an overlapbetween the connector and the retainer, the solder joint being of adifferent metal material than both the connector and the retainer, andthe solder joint attaching to the solder-promoting surface. In someembodiments, both the connector and the retainer have respectivesolder-promoting surfaces, the solder joint attaching to thesolder-promoting surfaces of both the retainer and the connector.Provision of the solder-promoting surfaces effectively allows fortargeting the specific location of the solder joints. Thesolder-promoting surfaces on the connector and the retainer respectivelyare in some embodiments localized metal coatings, each localized coatingfor example comprising a nickel coating.

Language

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implementcomponents, operations, or structures described as a single instance.Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustratedand described as separate operations, one or more of the individualoperations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that theoperations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures andfunctionality presented as separate components in example configurationsmay be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly,structures and functionality presented as a single component may beimplemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of thesubject matter herein.

Although an overview of the disclosed matter has been described withreference to specific example embodiments, various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Such embodimentsof the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individuallyor collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience andwithout intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application toany single disclosure or inventive concept if more than one is, in fact,disclosed.

The embodiments illustrated herein are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed.Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, such thatstructural and logical substitutions and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. The Detailed Description,therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope ofvarious embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along withthe full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in either an inclusive orexclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be provided forresources, operations, or structures described herein as a singleinstance. Additionally, boundaries between various resources,operations, modules, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary,and particular operations are illustrated in a context of specificillustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality areenvisioned and may fall within a scope of various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In general, structures and functionality presentedas separate resources in the example configurations may be implementedas a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures andfunctionality presented as a single resource may be implemented asseparate resources. These and other variations, modifications,additions, and improvements fall within a scope of embodiments of thepresent disclosure as represented by the appended claims. Thespecification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed, is:
 1. An assembly comprising: a framework thatincludes a frame wall having an obverse side and an opposite reverseside, the framework defining a housing cavity; electronics componentslocated in the housing cavity; a button that is located on the obverseside of the frame wall, the button being of a polymeric plasticsmaterial and being manually operable to control one or morefunctionalities of the electronics components; a tubular metal connectorthat is connected to the button by partial embedment thereof in thebutton, the connector projecting from the button transversely throughthe frame wall, an end of the connector furthest from the buttondefining a plurality of tenons projecting axially from the connector; asheet metal retainer oriented transversely to the tubular metalconnector, the retainer being located on the reverse side of the framewall such that part of the frame wall is located between the button andthe retainer, the retainer defining a plurality of mortise holescomplementary to the plurality of tenons of the connector, each tenonbeing matingly received in a corresponding mortise hole; and a pluralityof solder joints, each of which connects a respective tenon to theretainer at the corresponding mortise hole, thereby retaining the buttonon the frame wall.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sheet metalretainer is oriented such that a thickness dimension of the retainer isnormal to a longitudinal axis of the tubular metal connector.
 3. Theassembly of claim 2, wherein each solder joint is located at leastpartially in the corresponding mortise hole.
 4. The assembly of claim 3,wherein each solder joint has a height dimension that is substantiallyparallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular metal connector and thatcoincides substantially with an overlap between the respective tenon andthe retainer, the height dimension of the solder joint beingsubstantially equal to or smaller than the thickness dimension of theretainer.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality oftenons projects through the retainer substantially no further than amajor outer face of the retainer furthest from the frame wall.
 6. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein, for each solder joint, a solder-promotingsurface is provided on at least one of the corresponding tenon and thecorresponding mortise hole.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein thesolder joint is of a material different than both the connector and theretainer, the solder joint attaching to the solder-promoting surface. 8.The assembly of claim 7, wherein both, for each solder joint, both thecorresponding tenon and the corresponding mortise hole have respectivesolder-promoting surfaces, the solder joint attaching to thesolder-promoting surfaces of both the tenon and the mortise hole.
 9. Theassembly of claim 7, wherein each solder-promoting surface is alocalized metal coating.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein eachlocalized coating comprises a nickel coating.
 11. The assembly of claim1, wherein the button is displaceably mounted on the frame wall to allowtravel thereof in a direction transverse to the frame wall, an extent oftravel of the button away from the frame wall being limited by abutmentof the retainer against the frame wall on the reverse side thereof. 12.The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a biasing mechanism to biasthe button away from the frame wall.
 13. The assembly of claim 12,wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a compression spring heldcaptive between the button and the frame wall on the obverse sidethereof.
 14. A method comprising: positioning a button component ofpolymeric plastics material on an obverse side of a frame wall providedby a framework that defines a housing cavity, such that a tubular metalconnector that is connected to the button component by partial embedmentthereof in the button component projects transversely through the framewall to an obverse side thereof; receiving a plurality of tenonsprojecting longitudinally from an end of the tubular metal connectorfurthest from the button component in a plurality of complementarymating mortise holes defined by a sheet metal retainer orientedtransversely to the tubular metal connector and located on a reverseside of the frame wall furthest from the button component; and creatinga solder connection between the connector and the retainer by creating arespective solder joint that connects each of the plurality of tenons tothe corresponding mortise hole in which it is received, therebyretaining the button component on the frame wall.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising a prior operation of creating asolder-promoting surface on at least one of: the plurality of mortiseholes, and the plurality of tenons.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinthe creating of the solder-promoting surfaces comprises creating arespective solder-promoting surface in each of the plurality of mortiseholes and on each of the plurality of tenons.
 17. The method of claim15, wherein the creating of each solder-promoting surface comprisesapplying on their respective area a metal alloy coating that is morereceptive to soldiering than the material of the retainer and thematerial of the connector.